Video and Multimedia

Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Video link: Action Research in Education  
Learning Objective: LO 1-1, 1-4
Description: This video discusses the importance of action research and how schools can use ongoing study of their instructional practices as professional development for teachers.

Questions to consider:

  1. According to the video, how are expert teachers defined?
  2. Explain why these teachers continually evaluate progress through action research.
     

Video link: Action Research @ a Glance  
Learning Objective: LO 1-1
Description: This video is a Prezi about conducting ongoing action research for continuing improvement in teaching and other educational practices.

Questions to consider:

  1. How is action research defined in this video?
  2. Locate the figure at 0:30.  In what way(s) is it similar or different from the model of action research presented in figure 4 of your text?
     

Web link: Center for Applied Learning (CAL): Digests: Action Research
Learning Objective: LO 1-1, 1-2
Description: This Digest discusses a framework for conducting action research and describes an action research study carried out in an elementary school Spanish program.

Questions to consider:

  1. How does this author define action research?
  2. Briefly explain the main research goal of the study described in this Digest.
     

Web link: ASCD Books: Guiding School Improvement with Action Research, ch. 1
Learning Objective: LO 1-1, 1-2
Description: This chapter focuses on a brief definition of action research, as well as the action research process.

Questions to consider:

  1. How does the author define action research in this chapter?

  2. After reviewing all the definitions you have read (in this resource and the others listed above) for action research, explain why you believe there are so many variations.
     

Audio link: Podcast on Action Research and Professional Development for Teachers
Learning Objective: LO 1-4
Description: This is a podcast from an Irish radio broadcast entitled, “Inside Education.”  Caitriona McDonagh, Bernie Sullivan, and Mary Roche talk about their experiences with action research and professional development.

Questions to consider:

  1. Examples of research logs are given at the end of chapter 1 in your text.  Do you feel these are the same as Caitriona McDonagh’s description of reflective journals?  Explain your response.